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| Home >> General Discussion >> Mast clamcleat replacement |
Alternative quick fixes:
- replace the top of the halyard with a thicker line;
- stitch the halyard where it grabs the cleat, to make it thicker at that point;
- get a thin round file, and use that to re-dress the teeth of the cleat. If the file has a tapered point you might need to break off the tip of the file at the appropriate diameter. Insert the file in an electric drill, then use this as a rotary file in the grooves of the cleat, try to get each cleat evenly tapered as possible.
(also works to get a bit more life out of the deck mounted control line cleats, but as these are anodised aluminium, corrosion will be an ongoing issue).
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- replace the top of the halyard with a thicker line;
- stitch the halyard where it grabs the cleat, to make it thicker at that point;
- get a thin round file, and use that to re-dress the teeth of the cleat. If the file has a tapered point you might need to break off the tip of the file at the appropriate diameter. Insert the file in an electric drill, then use this as a rotary file in the grooves of the cleat, try to get each cleat evenly tapered as possible.
(also works to get a bit more life out of the deck mounted control line cleats, but as these are anodised aluminium, corrosion will be an ongoing issue).
Reply
07/05/2022 01:37:00
RonF 'Delphine'
Posts: 28
Hi
Thanks for the advice. Points noted, especially regrading the rivet gun. Mine is a cheap, small entry level model.
For reference, up to slipping at the top I didn't really use the bottom cleat, I just wrap the halyard twice around the mushroom and tuck the rest of the halyard into the sail pocket. If driven into the top cleat properly by the downhaul, I've never had to use the lower cleat.
However, recently the halyard started to slip, whenever I pulled the downhaul/cunningham trying to drive the halyard into the upper cleat. I then replaced the upper halyard bit and it is now holding again, but upon examination the top clamcleat showed also wear as the first and second 'groove' have been worn down and are noticably less pronounced and less sharp. So the cleat at the top will need replacing as well, but I've never drilled rivets out of a carbon mast before. I'll replace the upper cleat at one point and will update here how it went.
Cheers
Matt
Reply
Thanks for the advice. Points noted, especially regrading the rivet gun. Mine is a cheap, small entry level model.
For reference, up to slipping at the top I didn't really use the bottom cleat, I just wrap the halyard twice around the mushroom and tuck the rest of the halyard into the sail pocket. If driven into the top cleat properly by the downhaul, I've never had to use the lower cleat.
However, recently the halyard started to slip, whenever I pulled the downhaul/cunningham trying to drive the halyard into the upper cleat. I then replaced the upper halyard bit and it is now holding again, but upon examination the top clamcleat showed also wear as the first and second 'groove' have been worn down and are noticably less pronounced and less sharp. So the cleat at the top will need replacing as well, but I've never drilled rivets out of a carbon mast before. I'll replace the upper cleat at one point and will update here how it went.
Cheers
Matt
Reply
06/05/2022 11:52:00
Matt
Posts: 19
I've had Aeros since the early days and never had to replace the cleat. Halyard problems are solved by care when rigging (a good tug on the Cunningham when first cleating the sail) and once or twice a year replacing the rope at the top (or just moving the bobble up a bit and cutting off spare rope).
I have replaced a rivet in the carbon mast - but ideally you need specifics rivets and a very strong rivet gun.... (after very carefully drilling out the old one).
Reply
04/05/2022 12:29:00
David-at-BroadwaterSC
Posts: 42
I replaced mine on my first boat,when the plastic one failed to grip, with a metal one. It was a similar process to a metal mast, just don't make the holes in the mast bigger. However since replacing the top halyard loop which locks secure in the top cleat then the bottom cleat is only to keep the halyard neat rather than secure the sail. The rooster loop works better than the RS original
https://www.roostersailing.com/collections/shop-by-boat-rs-classes-rs-aero/products/133317
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04/05/2022 11:18:00
Mark1654
Posts: 13
Hi there
The original technical question is still unanswered and as we have the same technical arrangement for the top mast cleat, I'd love to hear about any experiences. So, paraphrasing the original post slightly:
The upper mast clamcleat no longer keeps the main halyard tight. I would like to change it to a new one. Any suggestions how to get the rivets and the old cleat off without damaging the.mast? I have previously drilled them out of an aluminium mast but not a carbon fibre one.
Thx Matt
Reply
The original technical question is still unanswered and as we have the same technical arrangement for the top mast cleat, I'd love to hear about any experiences. So, paraphrasing the original post slightly:
The upper mast clamcleat no longer keeps the main halyard tight. I would like to change it to a new one. Any suggestions how to get the rivets and the old cleat off without damaging the.mast? I have previously drilled them out of an aluminium mast but not a carbon fibre one.
Thx Matt
Reply
04/05/2022 10:53:00
Matt
Posts: 19
You should not have any tension on the lower one, all the work should be done at the top. What a lot of pople also do is to have a small loop in the halliard just above the lower clesat and hook an elastic from the downhaul to this loop. That both keeps the halliard tidy and frees the downhaul. - pretty much makes the lower cleat redundant
Reply
Reply
03/05/2022 10:25:00
Gareth
Posts: 170
Hi all,
I have a second hand 9 rig and the lower mast clamcleat no longer keeps the main halyarf tight. I often see it floating around with the halyard just held by the upper cleat..
I would like to change it to a new one. Any suggestions how to get the rivets and the old cleat off without damaging the.mast? I have previously drilled them out of an aluminium mast but not a carbon fibre one.
Thanks
Reply
I have a second hand 9 rig and the lower mast clamcleat no longer keeps the main halyarf tight. I often see it floating around with the halyard just held by the upper cleat..
I would like to change it to a new one. Any suggestions how to get the rivets and the old cleat off without damaging the.mast? I have previously drilled them out of an aluminium mast but not a carbon fibre one.
Thanks
Max
Reply
02/05/2022 18:13:00
Maximus
Posts: 1
